As students across the Commonwealth return to school, the 2024-25 budget signed by Governor Shapiro this summer includes a historic $1.1 billion increase for K-12 education — marking the largest single-year investment in the Commonwealth's history

Highlands School District will benefit directly from the new adequacy formula, receiving more than $740,000 through that formula designed to ensure schools with the greatest need receive the most support

Natrona Heights, PA – On Sep 4th, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Highlands High School in Allegheny County to meet with students, teachers, and legislators and mark the historic investments in public K-12 education secured in the 2024-25 bipartisan budget – including the creation of a new adequacy formula to drive dollars to the public schools that need them most like Highlands.

As students across the Commonwealth return to school, they are benefitting from substantial new investments secured by Governor Shapiro and a bipartisan group of legislators. The 2024-25 budget(opens in a new tab) includes a historic $1.1 billion in total increases in K-12 public education funding, the largest year-over-year increase in Commonwealth history. This budget delivers significant progress on building strong and safe school communities, adequately and equitably funding public schools, supporting our teachers, and ensuring that every Pennsylvania child has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. 

"In the bipartisan budget I signed this summer, Pennsylvania is making an unprecedented commitment to K-12 public education with $11 billion in funding — an increase of $1.1 billion from last year, the largest increase in history. There's nothing more important than investing in our children's future, and we'll keep working together to deliver for them," said Governor Shapiro. "This budget builds on our progress by funding student teacher stipends, enhancing mental health resources, and addressing environmental repairs in schools. Additionally, we're refining our school funding formula to ensure that resources reach the schools that need them most."

Highlands High School will significantly benefit from the 2024-25 bipartisan budget's investments and the new adequacy formula. The high school is part of Highlands School District — set to receive approximately $1.5 million more than last year thanks to this budget, bringing their total to $19.2 million for the 2024-25 school year. The district serves around 2,200 students across three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school and is located about 20 miles from Pittsburgh.

The 2024-25 budget delivers significant progress for K-12 education that will give every student the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. This budget includes funding for: 

• Historic Basic Education Funding: Building on the investments in the Governor’s first budget, the 2024-25 budget makes another historic down payment in K-12 education funding in Pennsylvania with an increase of $1.1 billion. Of this funding, nearly $526 million will be distributed through a new adequacy formula to drive dollars to the schools that need them most.

• Increases to Special Education: Governor Shapiro’s budget increases special education funding by $100 million to ensure that school districts have the basic resources necessary to provide high-quality special education services to students with disabilities and special needs. 

• Cyber Charter Reimbursement: The 2024-2025 budget sets aside $100 million to reimburse schools for payments they must make to cyber charter schools.

• Career and Technical Education and Dual Enrollment: Creating real opportunity for students includes expanding options for them to gain experience, training, and advanced credit for college while still in high school. The Governor’s budget includes a $30 million increase for Career and Technical Education and continues $7 million in support of dual enrollment. 

• School Safety and Security and Mental Health Services: Every student deserves to be safe and feel safe in their school. The 2024-25 budget continues a $20 million annual investment in school safety and security improvements and provides $100 million in sustainable funding for environmental repairs and other facility projects in schools – $25 million of which is set aside for solar projects at schools. This budget also delivers $100 million to put more mental health and physical safety resources in our schools.

• Providing Period Products for Students: No student should have to miss school due to not being able to afford basic necessities like menstrual hygiene products. The Governor’s budget invests $3 million to provide menstrual hygiene products at no cost to students in schools. 

• Investing in Early Childhood Learning: Every child in Pennsylvania deserves the support and resources to succeed, from infancy through adulthood. The budget invests an additional $2.7 million in the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program and an additional $15 million for the Pre-K Counts program.

• Universal Free Breakfast for Students: Students cannot be expected to focus, learn, and succeed on an empty stomach. The Governor’s budget ensures that 1.7 million students across Pennsylvania will receive free breakfast at school, regardless of their income.

• Supporting Student Teacher Stipends: To further strengthen the educator pipeline and address the education workforce shortage, the 2024-25 budget doubles funding for student teacher stipends, for a total of $20 million to support Pennsylvanians training to become certified and committed educators in the Commonwealth.

The Governor was joined for a ceremonial bill signing by Highlands School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Cathleen Cubelic, Highlands High School teacher Michelle Dickerson and student Agastya Narang, as well as local and state legislators.

“Over the course of my 30 year career, I've had the privilege of working with educators across Pennsylvania who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their students, often in the face of limited resources and support — their dedication and tireless efforts to provide a quality education, nurturing environment, and guidance to their students has truly been inspiring,” said Dr. Cubelic. “This dynamic has never been more evident than here at Highlands, and with the generous support and foresight of the Commonwealth — Highland School District is positioned to embark on a journey that will transform our students' futures.”

“Schools really are the center of a community. They bring people together — it’s where you meet your friends and our families make connections. They give us a mascot and someone to cheer for on the stage and on the field. They provide our children with their first opportunities to prepare for their next chapter,” said Dickerson. “A true commitment to public schools is multifaceted — not only is it the dollars and the cents that are dedicated to schools across the Commonwealth, but is also the time, energy and passion that educators pour into their students and schools. Public education thrives when policymakers, administrators, teachers, staff, families, and communities all commit to support our schools and strive to provide the resources necessary for all students.”

“Being born in India, there was always a sense of family and community. When I left India in 2017, I was not only leaving behind my school, but also a way of life. On the first day of school, I had no friends, no family except my parents, and no idea what I was doing in a country I used to dream of being. I didn't even know who Michael Jordan was,” said Narang. “But, from that moment on, I knew that I wanted this, but it wouldn't be without the unlimited support that I received from the students, teachers, and administrators here at Highlands, who spent countless hours to make sure students like me feel welcome. We have to reach for the stars, because even if we stumble, then we land on the moon.”

“The $1.1 billion increase for education funding in the bipartisan budget we crafted this year is strong evidence that Democrats and Republicans can actually get stuff done when we work together,” said Representative Mandy Steele. “Under the leadership of Governor Shapiro, all of Pennsylvania’s public school students are in good hands, including students here at Highlands High School.” 
 
For more information on how the 2024-25 budget will create opportunity for Pennsylvanians, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov(opens in a new tab).